Reflections on St. Philippine

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

Rose Philippine Duchesne was a pioneer, an educator, a vowed religious. Her fortitude, faith, courage and humility continue to inspire today. The Reflections below were written by Religious of the Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart Associates and educators, alumnae and other friends for the "Month of Philippine," February, 2013, as part of the Year of Faith.

Quakahkanumad (Woman Who Prays Always) was the name Philippine Duchesne was given by the Potawatomi when she lived in Sugar Creek for a short time during her "grandmother" years. It is an honor for a non-indigenous person to be named by an indigenous tribe, and in the remaining ten years of her life after she left Sugar Creek, Philippine continued to live up to her Potawatomi name. In fact, the legacy of Philippine's witness to contemplation continues to be attractive in today's frantically-paced world.

One of the most valuable things that Sacred Heart gives us is a sense of determination. We learn from Sacred Heart that in order to succeed in life and be happy with ourselves, we must keep striving and working towards what we want and with hard work and faith, anything is possible.

Ordinarily (God) gives one outstanding grace to a soul, and this grace becomes the source of many others. In my case, that signal grace was my return to Sainte Marie and membership in the blessed Society of the Sacred Heart.